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Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
S'pore's investment in Changi Airport Terminal 5 coming at the right time, says Iata chief
Expected to cost billions to build, T5 is designed to handle about 50 million passengers a year when it opens in the mid-2030s. PHOTO: CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP S'pore's investment in Changi Airport Terminal 5 coming at the right time, says Iata chief – Singapore is making the investment to construct Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5) at the right time, as South-east Asia is set to be among the fastest growing aviation markets in the world, said the head of the global trade body for airlines. 'It's a very sensible development,' International Air Transport Association (Iata) director-general Willie Walsh told reporters on June 3, during a roundtable for Asian media at the association's annual meeting in New Delhi. 'It will be important to ensure that the capacity is available ahead of the demand, especially for an airport like Singapore, which prides itself in terms of the standard of service that it provides to airline customers and to airlines themselves,' Mr Walsh said. 'South-east Asia is the part of the world where we'll probably see the strongest growth, going forward,' he added, noting the rapid pace of growth in India and China as well. Expected to cost billions to build, T5 is designed to handle about 50 million passengers a year when it opens in the mid-2030s. This will allow Changi Airport to handle 140 million passengers yearly, up from 90 million today. Mr Walsh, an industry veteran who was chief executive of British Airways, said Iata supports the development of the new mega terminal in Singapore, noting that the association has been in close dialogue with the airport operator and the Government about it. He lamented the fact that many other airports around the world do not fully understand the needs of airlines, which leads to developments that are not appropriate or more expensive than needed. Responding to a question about taxation in India, he said airlines will always have an issue with airport charges. 'The view of airlines is we want efficient airport operations at a cost-effective price, and that means we want to see airports make sensible long-term investments that can be afforded by the industry,' Mr Walsh said. 'It clearly requires more dialogue between airlines and airports, and where we see airlines and airports working together, it's incredibly effective,' he added. Asked about Singapore's plans to consolidate the operations of national carrier Singapore Airlines and its budget arm Scoot at T5, and whether there is a need to ensure fairness for other carriers, Mr Walsh said this happens at any other major air hub. 'For a hub airport to be successful, it requires the hub airport infrastructure, but also the hub airline... If you've got the major hub operator, you've got to have facilities that work for them,' he added. Given the growth that is expected in the wider Asian region, Mr Walsh said there is also sufficient demand to support the emergence of new regional hubs, in addition to the existing ones. 'The critical issue is you have to have the network,' he said, in response to a question about Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport's aspirations to be a hub in East Asia. 'What you often get with these airports is you get a lot of services, but not necessarily connected,' Mr Walsh added. At an earlier press conference on June 3, Indigo chief executive Pieter Elbers pointed to increased connectivity between India and South-east Asia as a driver of new traffic and opportunities. He said India is functioning, to some extent, as a growth engine for South-east Asia, and Indigo, a low cost-carrier and India's largest airline, has added a lot of new flights to the region, to 'enormous response' from both markets. 'We see a lot of new traffic developing between India and South-east Asia – to Thailand to Malaysia to Singapore,' said Mr Elbers. 'So the growth in India is not only domestic growth, it is also regional growth.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Where to go with kids: June school holiday ideas, from new play spaces to museums
(Clockwise from top left) Assemble creatures using acrylic pieces, get up close with popular characters Miffy and Boris, go on an Airbag Donut Slide and take part in interactive musical Adventures With Andi. PHOTOS: CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP, DERIC TAN, LIANHE ZAOBAO, SUPERPARK SINGAPORE SINGAPORE – Who says the Asian Civilisations Museum is too serious for pre-schoolers? It has launched a welcoming and fun space for them, just in time for the June school holidays. And if your older kids have been badgering you to buy a video game console, you may find a middle ground at Gamer's Guild at Bugis+ mall. Take them to the new console e-sports centre, which is equipped with 50 Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 5 units, and a library of 300 game titles. Regardless of your children's interests, you can find a variety of activities for the family to enjoy quality time together. Here are nine places to consider this mid-year school break. Asian Civilisations Museum's family-friendly space The Fantastic Creatures activity allows kids to assemble imaginative animals with colourful acrylic shapes on an overhead projector. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Let your kids loose at the Asian Civilisations Museum's (ACM) new family-friendly space ACM & Me on the ground floor. Inspired by the museum's collection of artefacts , the area offers interactive activities such as Fantastic Creatures, which highlights five popular mythical creatures in Asian culture and their symbolic meanings. Your children are encouraged to find depictions of these creatures within the museum. For example, a Makara ornament – a water creature often portrayed with an elephant's trunk, a crocodile's body and a fish's tail – can be found in the Ancestors and Rituals gallery on level 2. This creature is believed to be a guardian of rivers and seas. But it may be hard to get your children to leave ACM & Me and explore the rest of the museum. Here, they can assemble imaginative creatures with colourful acrylic shapes. These creations can then be showcased on a screen using overhead projectors, commonly used in schools in the 1970s to 1990s. Another fun experience is the Everyday Stories station, where children can learn an early animation technique. Silicone mats with illustrations – inspired by a circa 1785 Hong bowl in the museum's Maritime Trade gallery – create a moving illusion when spun. Children will be captivated as scenes on the mats seemingly come alive when placed on a spinner. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO These mats depict scenes from the bowl, which you should take your kids to marvel at. The giant porcelain bowl measures 26cm in diameter and stands 15cm tall. Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place When: Saturdays to Thursdays, 10am to 7pm; Fridays, 10am to 9pm. ACM & Me is closed for cleaning from 12.30 to 2pm daily Admission: Free for Singaporeans and permanent residents; $15 for foreigners from June 2 Info: Children's Season at the National Museum Sit around at this 'HDB void deck' at the National Museum and play old-school games with your kids. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO A ' mamak shop' has opened at the National Museum of Singapore, but you will not be able to buy snacks and drinks there. It serves as the backdrop of intergenerational artworks by pre-schoolers from My First Skool and seniors from St Luke's Eldercare, who share their memories about the provision shops. The showcase and a short film about the cultural significance of mamak shops are presented as part of Children's Season at the museum in collaboration with children's arts centre The Artground. And what is a mamak shop without an HDB void deck? The reimagined space allows families to sit around and play old-school games such as five stones and pick-up sticks. Complementing the SG60 commemorative exhibition Once Upon A Tide, this edition of Children's Season also explores the impact of early and present-day migrants in shaping Singapore. Kids can show their gratitude to migrant workers by creating thank-you cards, which will be distributed to them through social enterprise Migrant & Me's network after the exhibition. On weekends, your kids can interact with three actors – playing a samsui woman, rickshaw puller and iced-water seller – as they share stories on migration and life in early Singapore. Where: National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road When: Until June 29, 10am to 6pm daily; selected programmes run on weekends only Admission: Free and ticketed programmes Info: Gamer's Guild Gamer's Guild, billed as Singapore's largest console e-sports store, has 50 Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 units. PHOTO: EVO AMUSEMENT Not ready to buy a video game console for your kids, despite them being on their best behaviour? Consider taking them to a gaming centre such as Gamer's Guild, which opened at Bugis+ mall on May 30. Billed as Singapore's largest console e-sports store, it offers 50 Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 units. Your kids can also experience realistic racing in a dedicated simulator room equipped with a racing wheel and reclining seat. The space offers nine private rooms and two live-streaming VIP rooms as well. Experience realistic racing in a dedicated simulator room equipped with a racing wheel and reclining seat. PHOTO: EVO AMUSEMENT Even for gamers who already have their set-up at home, the centre's growing library of 300 titles means they can try out the games before purchasing. Gamer's Guild is run by entertainment company Evo Amusement, which brought in the popular Pokemon Ga-Ole arcade game. Children can enjoy a variety of games that also offer opportunities for parents to connect with them through friendly competition or teamwork. Kids who are nine years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult, while those aged 10 and above can play independently. Where: 05-05 Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street When: 11am to 9pm daily Admission: As part of an opening promotion, members receive one hour of free play each day. The regular hourly fee is $10. Membership is free Info: Revamped SuperPark Singapore SuperPark Singapore's play activities are designed for both children and adults. PHOTO: SUPERPARK SINGAPORE SuperPark Singapore now features 34 activities, with 13 new additions designed for both children and adults to bounce, climb and slide to their hearts' content. The double-storey indoor activity park's entrance has also been relocated from level 2 to 1, following a two-month renovation. Among the new experiences is Airbag Donut Slide in the Adventure Area play zone. Riders between 30 and 120kg can hop on a round float and enjoy a soft yet thrilling descent. Experience an adrenaline rush on the new Airbag Donut Slide. PHOTO: SUPERPARK SINGAPORE At the Freestyle Hall, check out Basketball Jump, which allows you to bounce on a trampoline and use the extra height to execute dunks and shots. Over at the Game Arena, compete against others on SuperRun interactive treadmills in races from 100m to 5km, or enjoy a leisurely run through a virtual park. SuperPark originated in Finland in 2012 and its Singapore outpost opened in 2018. After its recent makeover, the park has eight party rooms and its first on-site cafe Super Recharge, which serves hot dogs, pizzas and slushies. Where: SuperPark Singapore, 01-488 Suntec City Tower 2, 3 Temasek Boulevard When: 9am to 9pm daily during school and public holidays. For opening hours outside of these periods, refer to its website Admission: From $25.90 for non-members who are at least 1m tall, half-price for kids under 1m, free for infants below age one Info: Miffy's birthday celebration at Changi Airport Miffy and Boris Bear invite your family to a beach-themed birthday celebration at Changi Airport Terminal 3. PHOTO: CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP Miffy's 70th birthday celebration continues at Changi Airport Terminal 3 (T3), culminating in a party on her actual birthday on June 21. The event will feature a cake-cutting ceremony and dance by the beloved bunny character and her friend Boris Bear. The bunny's birthday celebration at T3, which began in March with a garden theme, has been updated to a beach party theme from May 30, featuring new photo spots and play zones. You and your kids can now hop on to Miffy's Beach Party Bounce, an inflatable playground with 2m-tall slides that plunge into a giant ball pit and swings . Miffy's Beach Party Bounce features 2m-tall slides that plunge into a giant ball pit and swings. PHOTO: CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP Spend at least $50 in a receipt at participating outlets in the public areas of Terminals 1 to 4, or $80 for supermarket purchases, to get 30-minute play passes at $5 each and buy a celebration pass to attend the birthday bash on June 21. Each celebration pass costs $14.90 and includes a n instant photo print with Miffy and Boris, a slice of cake and a goodie bag with more than $65 worth of Miffy merchandise. Cannot make it to the party? Catch the duo's free shows on June 7, 14 and 28, at 2 and 5pm , at T3 basement 2's St3ps. Created in 1955 by Dutch artist and author Dick Bruna, Miffy is the star of a series of picture books which have reportedly sold more than 85 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages. Where: Changi Airport Terminal 3, 65 Airport Boulevard When: Until July 13, various timings Admission: Free; separate charges and redemptions apply for selected activities Info: U-Camp holiday workshops Enrol your kids in workshops at UOL Malls for the special price of $10 or $20. Options include muay thai classes at Fight Zone at Velocity. PHOTO: FIGHT ZONE/VELOCITY Enrol your children in a diverse range of school holiday workshops at special prices. UOL Malls – comprising Kinex, United Square and Velocity@Novena Square – have teamed up with their tenants to run U-Camp holiday workshops, offering more than 20 experiences for toddlers to teenagers. Redeem two workshop passes when you spend at least $60 at the malls, then pay a separate fee directly to each enrichment provider. Up to 80 per cent of the trial classes are priced at $10 a person a session while others cost $20. At Kinex, for instance, your children can paint sneakers at MurcyArt Gallery and design games at The Lab. Over at United Square, they can join a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class at The Gentle Art Academy or basketball clinic at KOTC Basketball. At Velocity, your kids can experience muay thai at Fight Zone or pick up a new sport with Pickleball Academy. Where: Kinex, 11 Tanjong Katong Road; United Square, 101 Thomson Road; and Velocity@Novena Square, 238 Thomson Road When: Until July 6, various timings Admission: Spend at least $60 at the malls to redeem two workshop passes. An additional fee of $10 or $20 a person applies Info: Go to or the respective malls' websites Parent-child baking classes Learn to make animal-themed madeleines with your child during the school holidays. PHOTO: REDMAN BAKING STUDIO Bake and bond with your children at RedMan Baking Studio's school holiday workshops. In the Animal-Themed Madeleines class, learn to make classic French madeleines and decorate eight pieces with adorable animal designs before taking them home. Another option is the Cake Push Pops course, where you and your child can bake sponge cake and assemble six servings in playful push-up containers. These two-hour hands-on classes are designed for a parent and a child between six and 12 years old. Teens can register independently. Where: Five RedMan outlets, including 02-26 Pasir Ris Mall, 7 Pasir Ris Central, and B1-14 The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green When: June 6 to 29, various timings Admission: $48 for a parent and a child aged six to 12 Info: Adventures With Andi musical Adventures With Andi is an interactive musical adapted from the What Ants Do local picture book series. PHOTO: DERIC TAN Catch the musical adaptation of What Ants Do, a four-book children's series (2022 to 2024) written by Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport Sun Xueling and illustrated by artist Josef Lee. Recommended for families with children aged two to 12, the 90-minute stage show follows Andi the ant and his friends, who face the daunting task of rebuilding their homes after a forest fire. Despite their varied strengths and skills, they must learn to collaborate and overcome obstacles to create a new haven. The interactive musical parallels the development of Singapore's public housing after the 1961 Bukit Ho Swee fire. Your kids are encouraged to work together with the performers and learn about resilience, teamwork and the importance of belonging. For example, balloons, symbolising rocks, will be released into the audience who can help move them towards the stage. The page-to-stage performance debuted in 2023. Presented by local theatre company How Drama, this new edition incorporates the story from What Ants Do On Fiery Days, the fourth book in the series. Director and co-writer Melissa Sim says: 'We want families to leave the theatre with a strong sense of togetherness and that we can overcome anything, if we put our minds together and stay united.' Where: Drama Centre Theatre, 03-01 National Library, 100 Victoria Street When: June 6, 11.30am; June 7 and 8, 11.30am and 2pm Admission: $30 and $35 Info: Stitch-themed activities at VivoCity Have fun at Stitch-themed carnival booths and take photos with installations of the beloved alien. PHOTO: VIVOCITY Stitch, with his mischievous grin and bright eyes, cuts an arresting figure at VivoCity's Outdoor Plaza. Take pictures with the towering 4.5m statue there and head inside the mall to hunt for two smaller photo spots. Also known as Experiment 626, the blue alien is enjoying his time in the spotlight, with Lilo & Stitch now showing in cinemas. It is a live-action remake of the 2002 animated classic of the same name. Try your hand at carnival games for $10 each and stand a chance to win plushies of the lovable character. Your little ones can also hop aboard the Mini Express Train adorned with Stitch graphics. Enjoy a free ride by signing up for the mall's Kids Club and spending $100 or more at participating stores. And shop the collectibles at lifestyle store Miniso's first Stitch-themed pop-up in Singapore. Exclusively available at Vivocity's Central Court is the Stitch Vinyl Plush Blind Box ($30.90), featuring the alien in a soft, fluffy onesie. Where: VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk When: Until June 29, various timings Admission: Free; separate charges apply for carnival games Info: Get the ST Smart Parenting newsletter for expert advice. Visit the microsite for more
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
T5 a game-changer for S'pore aviation, but Changi must keep moving to beat rival airports
Changi Airport's fifth terminal will be as big as Terminals 1 to 4 combined. PHOTO: CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP News analysis T5 a game-changer for S'pore aviation, but Changi must keep moving to beat rival airports SINGAPORE – In June 1975, a major national project got underway to reclaim land for a new international airport in Changi. It was a bold move that would eventually cement Singapore's position as a key aviation hub. Some 50 years later, the airport has marked yet another significant milestone – one that is no less bold or ambitious. On May 14, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong broke ground on Changi Airport's fifth terminal, which will be as big as Terminals 1 to 4 combined. 'Like our forefathers who chose to build Changi, we dare to dream big and aim high today,' PM Wong said at a ceremony to mark the start of construction on Terminal 5 (T5), which will open in the mid-2030s. He described the mega terminal as a 'bold move' to keep Changi ahead amid intensifying competition from other airports and an uncertain global economy. A bold move, it surely is. Nearly 12 years in the making, T5 will be a long-awaited but much-needed boost to Singapore's aviation industry – a major employer and driver of the economy that also powers other sectors such as tourism and logistics. The new terminal will allow Changi to serve 140 million passengers yearly, over 55 per cent more than its present capacity of 90 million. It will put Changi in the league of 'mega airports' – those able to handle more than 100 million passengers a year. The investment is timely. Competition from other regional air hubs cannot be ignored. These hubs in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are similarly expanding, with some projects expected to wrap up ahead of Changi's T5. Hong Kong International Airport, for instance, will be able to handle 120 million passengers yearly with its third runway, which opened in November 2024, and an expanded Terminal 2, slated to be operational in late 2025. This will allow the airport to capitalise on passenger and cargo demand into mainland China. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is building a fourth runway and a new South Terminal by 203 3 , which will take its annual handling capacity to 150 million. In the Middle East, Dubai is building what it describes as the world's largest airport terminal. The first phase of the project at Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport – which will replace its existing international airport – will allow it to handle 150 million passengers yearly by 2032, with capacity climbing eventually to 260 million. About 30 airports in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East have committed US$240 billion (S$312 billion) in the next decade to upgrade existing facilities and build new ones, according to the Airports Council International. The Asia-Pacific air passenger market is already the world's biggest, accounting for over a third of travel, and passenger numbers are expected to double in the 2040s. It is, therefore, vital for Changi to stay ahead of the curve and ride this growth. On the surface, Singapore may appear to be lagging behind some airports in executing its expansion plans. Experts, however, concur that its strategy is prudent and deliberate, with an eye on long-term sustainability. When the Covid-19 pandemic slammed the brakes on Changi's planned expansion for two years from 2020 to 2022, it gave the team a critical opportunity to review the terminal's design, drawing lessons from the global health crisis. It was back to the drawing board to design a pandemic-proof terminal, should the next health crisis hit. This would include ensuring that if needed, T5 could operate as smaller sub-terminals. This would allow spaces to be converted into testing facilities or for the segregation of high-risk passengers during outbreaks. While other airports continued expanding during the pandemic or resumed plans more quickly, Changi's pause was 'not a delay in ambition, but a reflection of Singapore's rigorous planning approach', said Mr Mayur Patel, Asia head at consultancy OAG Aviation. 'The result is a future-ready terminal that integrates lessons from the pandemic.' Ms Mabel Kwan, managing director at Alton Aviation Consultancy, agreed, saying it was prudent for Changi to take stock of how air traffic patterns have changed post-Covid-19, and make critical adjustments to T5's design. 'Going forward, there will be more, instead of fewer, disruptions,' she said, adding that the pause was a 'necessary step' for longer-term growth. Mr Patel added that although the 10-year construction schedule may seem long, it aligns with projected air traffic demand over the next decade. Although air travel demand in the region is expected to be strong, he added that the global supply chain glut that is delaying aircraft deliveries will likely last at least five more years, hampering capacity growth for airlines. Between now and T5's opening, Changi needs to focus on areas such as building airline partnerships, bringing in new routes and investing in digital innovation to maintain its status as a leading air hub, he added. Another noteworthy move that the scale of T5 will enable is the consolidation of the national carrier's operations. T5 will be the new home of Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its budget arm Scoot – a logical and long-overdue move that will bring what is now an operation scattered across Terminals 1 to 3 under one roof. Ms Kwan said transfers between flights operated by SIA from T2 and T3 and those by Scoot, which is based in T1, are now operationally more challenging. Significantly, said Mr Patel, this move to house SIA and Scoot at T5 will offer a more seamless transfer experience for passengers, particularly those with itineraries involving both carriers. It will also reduce minimum connecting times, allowing Changi to offer better connectivity for transfer passengers and improving its attractiveness as a hub. T5 sits within the 1,080ha Changi East, which also houses Changi's third runway. The runway is estimated to start operations in the last quarter of 2027, The Straits Times reported in April. It is this three-runway system that will keep Changi competitive, said independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie of Sobie Aviation. With three runways operational before T5 opens, the biggest challenge in relation to capacity will be resolved, given the present slot constraints with two runways. 'The third runway should allow full utilisation of the current terminals – although increased use of bus gates is likely – in the interim,' Mr Sobie added. There is much to do and much to look forward to. But with expansion being a constant for many large air hubs, the question is, what's next for Changi beyond T5? Space, Ms Kwan said, may no longer be the deciding factor at that point. With automation and technology being integral to the running of future airports, she said it will come down to how Changi leverages technology to continuously improve the efficiency of airport operations. 'The dimension to growth is not simply space,' she noted. When ready, T5 will be extensively automated, with the terminal expected to leverage everything from baggage robots to video analytics and artificial intelligence to predict potential flight delays. There is no doubt that the mega terminal will bring benefits to Singapore's aviation industry, economy, and Singaporeans by way of new jobs and opportunities. The competition for flights and passengers will only continue to intensify. To stay ahead of the game, Changi cannot and must not stand still. It's time to think of the next lap. Kenneth Cheng is assistant news editor at The Straits Times. He oversees transport coverage, spanning the land transport, aviation and maritime sectors. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Changi T5 will create new jobs and opportunities for S'poreans: PM Wong at ground-breaking
T5 is slated to open in the mid-2030s. PHOTO: CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP Changi T5 will create new jobs and opportunities for S'poreans: PM Wong at ground-breaking SINGAPORE – The development of Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5) - a 'bold move' to keep the Singapore air hub competitive - will raise demand for services and workers, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. 'This will provide more quality jobs for Singaporeans, requiring skill sets in new areas like data science, robotics and sustainability,' PM Wong said on May 14 at the T5 groundbreaking ceremony, which marks the start of construction on the mega terminal in Changi East. T5 is slated to open in the mid-2030s. The opportunities, said the Prime Minister, will come earlier than thought. 'The construction itself of T5 will be complex,' he said, adding that it is a significant engineering undertaking, and Singapore businesses will have the chance to take part in the process. PM Wong said T5, which was first mooted in 2013, will be a multi-year project, spanning many terms of government. Saying that the continued success of prize-winning Changi Airport cannot be presumed, he added that Singapore is making a bold move to keep Singapore's air hub ahead. 'Like our forefathers who chose to build Changi, we dare to dream big and aim high,' PM Wong said, adding that the country plans for the long term and has built up the resources to make the major investments needed to turn its plans into reality. The Prime Minister said the move to build T5 is a very significant milestone in Singapore's aviation journey. Designed to handle about 50 million passengers a year, T5 will allow Changi Airport to process 140 million passengers yearly – up from its current capacity of 90 million. It will be as big as all four existing terminals at Changi Airport combined, noted PM Wong. T5 will be the new home for national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its budget arm Scoot, which now operate across Terminals 1, 2 and 3, he added. 'Those flights can be consolidated at T5, reducing transit-transfer time for passengers,' said PM Wong, adding that there will still be space for other airlines to expand their fleets there, as well as across Changi Airport. He noted that the mega terminal will have state-of-the-art systems, and automate passenger-facing and back-end functions such as baggage handling. It will also be sustainable, leveraging smart building management systems, such as artificial-intelligence-optimised air conditioning, intelligent lighting and hybrid cooling systems. It will also be powered with more clean energy. The airport, said PM Wong, is looking into the feasibility of installing a solar system on its roof. This would be one of the largest rooftop systems in Singapore because of T5's size. There will also be an automated people mover system to take passengers directly from T5's arrival gates to the immigration halls, reducing walking distances. The mega terminal will also be connected to other terminals via the people mover system. T5 will also be better connected to the rest of Singapore than Changi Airport is now. A ground transport centre will bring together the MRT, buses, taxis and cars. The Thomson-East Coast MRT Line will be extended to take passengers directly from T5 to the city centre and up north towards the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link terminal at Woodlands North. 'We are also working to extend the Cross Island Line to connect T5 to new hubs in Singapore, like the Jurong Lake District and Punggol Digital District,' PM Wong said. T5, being closer to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, will also allow Changi Airport to explore air-sea transfers to destinations in neighbouring countries, he added. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
